THEOAKLANDPOST Volume 45 l Issue 4 l Sept. 25, 2019
Oakland University’s Independent Student Newspaper
RETURN OF THE BROOKSIE WAY Friends and family cheer on runners at 12th annual race Page 4
ADVOCATING FOR YOU
Attorneys to visit, offer legal advice to students PAGE 4
PHOTO BY NICOLE MORSFIELD
CLIMATE CHANGE
FRESHMAN FOR THE WIN
PAGE 10
PAGE 14
Faculty members work to start group to battle “climate grief”
Brooklyn Blake scores first collegiate goal, soccer wins 1-0
THIS WEEK
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
SEPTEMBER 25 , 2019 | 2
THEOAKLANDPOST EDITORIAL BOARD
Trevor Tyle Editor-in-Chief editor@oaklandpostonline.com 248.370.4266
Katie LaDuke Managing Editor katelynladuke@oakland.edu 248.370.2537
Katie Valley Content Editor kvalley@oakland.edu 248.370.4268
EDITORS
Nicole Morsfield Photo Editor nmorsfield@oakland.edu Ben Hume Web Editor bhume@oakland.edu Rachel Basela Life&Arts Editor rachelbasela@oakland.edu Michael Pearce Sports Editor mpearce@oakland.edu
REPORTERS
Devin Boatwright Staff Reporter Katelyn Hill Staff Reporter Bridget Janis Staff Reporter Taylor McDaniel Staff Reporter Dean Vaglia Staff Reporter Rachel Yim Staff Reporter
FLEECE AND THANK YOU Volunteers with nonprofit organization Fleece and Thank You craft fleece blankets for hospitalized children at Stoney Creek High School on Saturday, Sept. 21. PHOTO / RYAN PINI
ADVERTISING
6
EQUITY AND ETHICS
An OU alumna educates students on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Photo/Ryan Pini
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13
HUMANISM IN HEALTHCARE
STILL THERE FOR YOU
Photo/Oakland University
Photo/Getty Images
Nursing student receives honorable mention in healthcare essay contest.
Angela Gebert Ads Director ads@oaklandpostonline.com 248.370.4269 Whitney Shelby Ads Assistant
LAST ISSUE’S POLL
DID YOU WATCH THE EMMY AWARDS ON SUNDAY NIGHT?
DO LIGHTBULBS MAKE YOUR SKIN LOOK ORANGE?
B) YES, BILLY PORTER IS BAE C) NO, I WAS TOO BUSY NOT CARING D) THE EMMYS? I DON’T KNOW HER
10% A) ONLY CFL BULBS DO
Ryan Pini Photographer Sergio Montanez Photographer
DISTRIBUTION
Kat Malokofsky Distribution Director Meredith Atwell Distributor J.C. Elliott Distributor Alex Pham Distributor Caitlyn Ulery Distributor
ADVISING
Garry Gilbert Editorial Adviser gjgilber@oakland.edu 248.370.2105 Don Ritenburgh Business Adviser ritenbur@oakland.edu 248.370.2533
VOTE AND CONNECT AT: oaklandpostonline.com
25 years after its debut, “Friends” is more popular than ever.
POLL OF THE WEEK A) YES, AND I LAUGHED AT THE KARDASHIANS, TOO
COPY&VISUAL
Mina Fuqua Chief Design Editor Erin O’Neill Design Editor Ashley Averill Design Editor Jimmy Williams Graphic Designer
17% B) I LIGHT UP LIKE A CITRUS
29% C) NO, I PREFER THE DARKNESS OF MY SOUL
44% D) IS THIS A TRUMP JOKE?
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 3
LOOKING BACK
Women’s Issues Forums hosted empowerment talks BRIDGET JANIS
Staff Reporter
The Center for Student Activities and the Women’s Issues Forum (now called the Office for Student Involvement and Students Advocating Gender Awareness, respectively) held events throughout the month of March 2002 that were focused on women’s history. With feminism continuing to be a growing movement today, Oakland University has been presenting its dedication to women through the years. “65% of the students at OU are women and a large faculty on staff are women,” said Jean Ann Miller, director of the Center for Student Activities and Leadership Development. “It’s a national celebration.” Since 2002, the percentage of female students has dropped to 56%, which is still over half of the students that attend OU, according to OU’s Fast Facts. Throughout the month, there were multiple events taking place and various guest speakers, with the two most highlighted being Naomi Wolf, the author of books “The Beauty Myth,” “Misconceptions” and “Fire with Fire,” and Michigan’s first female senator, Debbie Stabenow.
“I hope I can inspire people to get involved in the government and public services,” Stabenow said before the event. “I’m really looking forward to coming and having an opportunity to share stories about remarkable women in our history. I will also be talking about my experience throughout the years and the challenges I’ve faced.” When Stabenow presented at OU in 2002, there were only 13 women in the U.S Senate. Since then, the number of women in the Senate has grown to 25, with a total of 56 women ever serving in the Senate. According to Stabenow, the reason she entered the world of politics was to make a difference in public policy. Throughout her presentation, she emphasized how women even being able to be part of Congress is progress in itself. While Senator Stabenow focused more on women’s impact in the workplace and gender equality, Wolf drew everyone’s attention to the “Genderquake,” which is when women use their voting and financial power to change policies. One highlighted point in Wolf’s presentation was how many women have high expectations when they are 9 years old but often think they are far-fetched by 19 years old. “I want the world to be more fair and equi-
THE OAKLAND POST ARCHIVES Author Naomi Wolf spoke at Meadow Brook Theatre for Women’s History Month in March 2002.
table,” Wolf said. “Now, I acknowledge that there may be some gender differences that are innate, sure. Do I think we ought to make policy out of them? No.” Wolf was trying to get across the point of the struggle for gender equality and how women today need to take their role in society into consideration. Today on campus, there are organizations that highlight all the areas that Wolf was trying to get across. A big group impact on campus is the Feminists of OU,
a student organization that holds events to work toward the education of gender equality and minority status of women. OU also has a Women and Gender Studies (WGS) program that talks about the power and representation of women throughout history. While feminism will always be a big topic around campus, members of the OU community in 2002 were trying to inspire students and hoped for a future that holds more equality around universities.
4 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
CAMPUS
Brooksie Way brings sense of community to campus TAYLOR McDANIEL Staff Reporter
The 12th annual Brooksie Way race brought together members of the Oakland County community to show a sense of undying comradery and support. “Almost there — keep it up!” shouted a girl, sitting in the dirt and grass to cheer on participants. A wife yelled to her husband, “Come on, Henry! Finish strong,” encouraging him to not give up. “Good job!” one friend called to another from the opposite side of the half marathon track. With all of the cheers and aid from those around them, no amount of heat, humidity or sweat could stop the runners — or walkers — from finishing what they started at 8 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22. Participants of the race had the choice of completing a half marathon, 10K or 5K. The half marathon began back in 2008 as a way to promote physical activity to those in Oakland County. Proceeds from the race support programs that have the same goal in mind. Not only does this year mark the 12th year of the race, it is also the first year without its creator, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. The race was named in honor of Patterson’s late grandson, Brooks Stuart Patterson. Patterson also founded The Rainbow Connection — a Michigan organization dedicated to granting wishes for children with
NICOLE MORSFIELD | PHOTO EDITOR
The 12th annual Brooksie Way 5K and 10K race took place Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019.
life-threatening medical conditions — back in 1985. Over 200 children and family members helped by the organization walked the 5K at the 2019 event. Besides Patterson, the day was made possible by sponsors and volunteers of the event — including title sponsor McLaren Health. McLaren had medical staff on site and in a specified tent during the race to assist participants in case of an emergency. As being the host location of the event,
Oakland University was a sponsor as well. OU students from the physical therapy program volunteered at the Orthopedic Spine and Sports Therapy tent to give free massages to competitors after the race. The Oakland Sheriff Department, Rochester Police Department and OUPD kept the grounds safe and secure as well as manning the traffic — cars and people. Perhaps most importantly to the children, though, were the inflatable bounce houses pro-
vided by OC Parks and Recreation. Once the participants were done with their respective races, they could relax with food and drinks inside a large tent on the Meadowbrook Amphitheatre grounds. Live music was provided by local group Rev. Right Time & The 1st Cuzins of Funk. Participants could also snap a post-race selfie. Announcing the awards in the post race tent was Race Director Deb Kiertzner-Flynn — not before asking the crowd how the race went, and thanking the many sponsors of the event. Kicking off the award session was the shorter length races. For the 5K, the winner of the male category was 13-year-old Luke Maher with a time of 18 minutes and 16 seconds. First place 5K winner of the female category was bib number 6452: Alejandra Hernandez — 15th rank overall for that section. John Worthington II nabbed the 1st place slot for the 10K for the males, while Mary Williams did the same for the females. Coming in at one hour, 14 minutes and 14 seconds, the winner of the half marathon run for the 2019 Brooksie Way was Samuel Parlette. Parlette excitedly expressed his joy of the race after posing with Rochester resident Dot McMahan who won the female section — her second at Brooksie Way. Whether first place or last, walking or running, The Brooksie Way Half Marathon yet again continued its goal of encouraging those in the community to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
OUSC brings legal advice to yOU KATELYN HILL Staff Reporter
Students looking for any legal advice, look no further. The Oakland University Student Congress (OUSC) presents the “Advocating for yOU” event, taking place Wednesday, Sept. 25 in O’Dowd Hall, Room 202B, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. “Advocating for yOU” will bring in attorneys Hasan Kaakarli, Jasmine D. Rippy, Ameena R. Sheikh and Judge John M. Chmura to give students legal advice. “They’re coming in to talk about a specific topic, answer some general questions and resolve some misconceptions about the topics,” OUSC Vice President Julia Alexander said. This meeting is the first in what’s going to be a series of lectures where different legal topics are discussed to inform students and answer any questions
they may have. The advice being given in this session will focus on the process when receiving charges for operating while intoxicated (OWI) or driving under the influence (DUI). A Q&A session will take place after the lecture where students can ask questions personally or anonymously. Students will also be able to talk one-on-one with the attorneys after the meeting is over. Mina Ghobrial, OUSC student services director, said though it might be awkward, this is the opportunity to ask any and all questions that students may have about the subject. “It’s wise as a citizen to know what your rights are,” he said. “I think that would be extremely useful and helpful for the student body.” Whether or not students think something like this could happen to them, Alexander still believes this is an important opportunity for OU students. “I think in a perfect world, we like to think that college
students are going to do the right thing and they know what they’re going to do, but it’s not always the case,” she said. “I think it’s really important for students to know their rights and know what to expect in situations like that because those things aren’t planned for.” Ghobrial said even if a student doesn’t personally think the discussed topic would apply to them now, something could still happen in the future. “After you come to college you might go off, graduate and have a family one day,” he said. “If you don’t know these things, what are you going to do?” Since this is a series, the OUSC is open to the student body’s opinion. Ghobrial encourages anyone with topic ideas to email him. The goal of the “Advocating for yOU” event is to bring topics that could apply to students, so ideas are always welcome. For more information, visit the event page. Students can also text (707) 506-6872 with any concerns.
CAMPUS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 5
GrizzHacks 24-hour hackathon returns
PHOTO COURTESY OF GRIZZHACKS
The annual hackathon returns Sept. 28-29 for another day of hardware and software building.
DEAN VAGLIA Staff Reporter
Get ready for a four-peat. GrizzHacks is back. The annual Oakland University hackathon returns for 24 hours on Sept. 28-29, taking over the Engineering Center for a full day of hacking, learning and collaborating. A hackathon is a competition where contestants, either alone or as a team, work on a hardware or software project. Kevin Huffman, GrizzHacks head marketing organizer, said there is much more to GrizzHacks than just writing code. “We have tech talks where people will come in and talk about how to build Android apps, how to build iOS apps,” Huffman said. “Last year there was a talk about how to hack a Tesla … Even people with no experience in programming or computers or anything can come and have a good time and learn a lot.” While festivities start at 11 a.m. Saturday, the 24-hour nature of the event means that contestants will need to come prepared to crunch and cram. “You need to bring stuff to be set for 24 hours,” Emma Atkinson, GrizzHacks president, said. “A toothbrush, maybe a pillow and a blanket.” Huffman said attendees should be ready to expand their building horizons. “People should come ready to learn something or ready to try to build something,” Huffman said. “Whichever they feel comfortable doing.” Hacker teams, though not required, can have up to four contestants. “If anybody wants to come with a group of
friends and compete as a team, they are more than welcome to,” Huffman said. “If anybody wants to compete individually, they are more than welcome to do that. If anybody wants to come and they do not have a team to compete with but they want one, before the hacking starts we actually help organize people into teams if they have common interests.” Over $5,000 in prizes are on the line for categories such as “best GrizzHack,” “best hardware hack” and “best first-time hack.” The first GrizzHacks was held back in 2015 after a group of students attended SpartaHack at Michigan State University. “They loved it so much that they knew they had to bring it back to their campus,” Atkinson said. “They started working with the school and made GrizzHacks happen.” Since then, GrizzHacks has been sanctioned by Major League Hacking and is now the largest hackathon in the metro Detroit area. “[GrizzHacks] has grown in attendance for one, and ... in recent years we have had more sponsors come in,” Huffman said. “The sponsors will come and talk with the hackers before the event starts and talk about what it is like working in the industry. They will take resumes, they will give advice about what they are doing.” Sponsors for GrizzHacks 4 include Dynatrace, Little Caesars, OU Federal Credit Union, Comerica Bank, Rocket Mortgage and Ford Motor Company. Registration is available on the GrizzHacks website, though drop-in competitors and guests are welcome. Food for the hackers will be provided. Attendees must be students within one year of graduating.
RN to BSN: Online program for nurses TAYLOR McDANIEL Staff Reporter
While Oakland University has a high status when it comes to anything health related — according to Director of Admissions Shane Lewis — its numbers reflect its esteemed reputation as well. Health professions and related fields dominated the major category for graduating students from OU in the 2017-2018 school year. The nursing major was the second most popular major choice for incoming freshmen for the fall of 2019. What is most impressive, though, is the trend of the Registered Nursing to Bachelor of Nursing (RN to BSN) completion program for transfer students at OU — the second choice for transfers. The program is entirely online, can be completed within either 12 or 20 months and is one flat program price — growing the program roughly 160% since last fall when the price was implemented. The all-inclusive price — or $9,995 for 32 credits with no fees — is the first of its kind at OU for an undergraduate program, Lewis said. “The way we envisioned it is we wanted to be the best in terms of cost versus competition,” Jason Pennington, director of advising for the School of Nursing, said. “The only way to do that was to have a flat rate.” The decision came a few years ago when the department looked into how it could reinvigorate the completion program. Besides the price, the other factor looked into was time. “In the last couple of years, we really looked at our RN to BSN program because enrollment was dropping,” Dean of Nursing Judy Didion said. “Nationally, what was going on is RNs were already working [in the field] with families of their own and needed more flexibility.” The RN to BSN completion
program can be completed in just a year — or 20 months if the student cannot go back to school full-time. As said by Pennington, when the professional standard changed about 10 years ago, hospitals started shifting to requiring their nursing staff to have BSNs or be BSN prepared. This is due to how healthcare has become more complex, and employers are now starting to notice it, according to Didion. “It’s not just the skills nurses have, it’s the coordination of care — really the glue behind all of the other medical professionals,” Didion said. However, the program being online doesn’t mean the standard has dropped. Didion said she and her department work diligently with their full-time faculty to integrate quality into the online courses — including the faculty attending E-learning certification programs and dividing the students into smaller class sizes, making for a more personal touch. Didion hopes to give the program the community energy she feels when she’s on OU’s campus. “When we started to revise our program, we didn’t want it to be a stamped degree,” Didion said. “We wanted to have quality. We want our students to graduate transformed, thinking differently about the profession of nursing, about care and about their opportunities.” Pennington said the School of Nursing truly understands and is in touch with what the industry is actually like. Lewis believes this is due — in part — to expert faculty and OU’s collaboration with Beaumont via the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine. No matter the reason, it’s clearly paying off, according to Didion. “We’re happy because we’ve been able to meet the needs of those individuals out there who really want to continue their education,” she said.
CAMPUS
6 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Diversity, equity, inclusion event examines ethics TAYLOR McDANIEL Staff Reporter
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) at Oakland University hosted a “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: Moving from Words to ACTION” event on Thursday, Sept. 19 to inspire the OU community. Headlining the presentation was OU alumna Trina Scott, vice president of diversity and inclusion at Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans. Throughout the presentation, Scott emphasized the value of inclusion in the workforce to the audience — made up of present and future professionals, whether in business or not. “Diversity will flourish if you have inclusion,” Scott said. The talk began with Scott’s journey before Rocket Mortgage — including her time at Ernst & Young LLP where she participated in the nationally led College Mentoring for Access and Persistence program. One big question she had was: Why were recruiters not being more diverse with their recruiting? “Different perspectives bring different things to the table that were not thought of before,” Scott said. During her team’s visit to Cody High School in Detroit, they had to enter the school through metal detectors — something that unnerved the non-minority team members of her group. “I’ve never been to a public school before,” one of her team members had said. Scott, who attended private school, had
joked, “Well, neither have I.” She had realized, though, it was the first time those in the group had just a taste of what it feels like not to be in the majority. When Scott was approached by Quicken Loans a few years ago, she didn’t just want to check a “diversity” box for them. Luckily, this hasn’t been the case. Quicken Loans does business differently, Scott had passionately stated.
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Diversity will flourish if you have inclusion. TRINA SCOTT VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY BY QUICKEN LOANS
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Quicken Loans implements basic — yet important — business strategies: attract diverse talent; engage, develop and retain; supplier diversity; and community engagement. However, their approaches go beyond business. “We invest in the cities we live and work in,” Scott said. Investing includes donating money to trade schools in the area in order to get talent for recruitment and future jobs for those in the community, according to Scott. It also means 320,000 volunteer hours from team members and putting millions of dollars back into the city. Investing also means devotion to the employees
RYAN PINI | PHOTOGRAPHER
Trina Scott, VP of Diversity and Inclusion at Rocket Mortgage by Quicken Loans, speaks to students about moving ideas into words and actions in the modern workplace.
of the company. It means promotional and marketing videos featuring team members instead of actors, curated cultural experiences, a women’s conference — the first one sold out in 20 minutes — and videos of poems and personal stories made by team members themselves. “We are the ‘they,’” Scott said, a phrase used by Quicken Loans as they contribute to the city and their community — turning ideas into words and those words into actions. Omar Salih, president of the OU SHRM, was elated by Scott’s presentation and by the turnout of the audience. The organization whad hoped for 35 attendees, but over 50 people showed up to the Founders Ballroom.
Salih echoed Scott’s thoughts, saying diversity is about more than just having the numbers, but about new perspectives that bring about new ideas. OU has dedicated itself to involving all of its students as well with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The office prides itself on diversity initiatives and the OU Climate Survey, taken by students, faculty and staff to measure perceptions on campus in areas of inclusion, diversity, accessibility and more. “At OU, learning and diversity are inevitably linked by the common pursuit of knowledge and understanding,” states the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion tab on OU’s website.
Chartwells shakes up food court, Bear Cave offerings New pop-up restaurants come to campus, adding variety and expanding food options
DEAN VAGLIA Staff Reporter
New is in the air. New classes, new textbooks, new people to meet. And new menus, courtesy of Chartwells. For the fall 2019 semester, Chartwells has changed up the dining options at Oakland University. While not the magnitude of 2018’s Plum Market inclusion, Wild Blue and Food Works still change the culinary culture of OU. Wild Blue is a poke bowl and ramen vendor in the Pioneer Food Court in the space once occupied by Create. According to Mark McCormic, Chartwells resident district manager, a change to the Pioneer Food Court was needed. “We wanted to revitalize Create as the addition of Plum Market absorbed a lot of
their customers,” McComic said via email. “There are a lot of limitations in that space as there is no cooking equipment, only hot holding, so there were not a lot of options.” Chartwells looked at the poke bowl trend and weighed it with the success of the ongoing sushi program. Paired with a ramen component, Chartwells felt comfortable with unleashing the new seafood option at OU. Pass through some doors and descend some stairs and the second major Chartwells change comes into view. The trusty basement hangout and dining spot of the Bear Cave has a new menu — almost. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday, the usual Bear Cave menu of pizza, chicken and burgers enters hibernation while Food Works takes over. “[Chartwells] created a new initiative
called Food Works that finds local restaurants — focusing on minority or women-owned business when possible — and partnering with them to bring their successful best dishes to our accounts,” McCormic said. “Food Works makes contact with potential restaurants in the area and coordinates site visits and meetings. If we (and they) feel they are a fit for our campus, we will see if it can work with our schedule.” For the month of September, the restaurants La Feast (Mediterranean), Anchor Bar (wings, pizza and sliders) and Kruse and Muer all held down spots during the coveted lunchtime hours. The classic menu is still there, though only from 4 to close at 7 p.m. While the semester has only just begun and the longevity of the new options is up
in the air, student opinions are already beginning to take shape. “I think the change to Wild Blue was a good idea since Create was mainly salads and a lot of other restaurants at OU already sell salads,” sophomore Tessa Peruzzi said via text message. “I was not aware of the Bear Cave selling food from local restaurants, but I think that is a cool idea. I eat on campus a lot and sometimes get tired of the same options, but that will definitely bring a lot more variety to the school.” Not all students shared the optimism of Peruzzi, such as senior Kyle Peraino. “The new dining option, the poke bowl in the OC, it is not that popular of a place,” Peraino claims, chalking his evidence to not seeing much of a line. “I probably would not [eat there] because I do not like that type of food in general.”
TopTracer installed at OU Golf Course Why did Tarzan spend so much time on the golf course? Because he was perfecting his swing. But unlike professionals, the average golfer will spend hours trying to improve their swing. However, there’s a new way to learn and practice the perfect swing without frustration or boredom. Students, faculty, staff and affiliates are now able to play the new TopTracer technology at Oakland University’s Golf and Learning Center’s state of the art driving range. “It is still new to the U.S. market, so right now, there are only three facilities in the state of Michigan that have this and we’re one of them,” said Ashley Dewling, golf services manager at the Golf and Learning Center. Installed about six weeks ago, TopTracer is still brand new to players coming to warm up on the driving range at OU, but it’s a hit among those to play it. “From everyone that has tried it out, it’s amazing how accurate it is,” Dewling said. “In the first couple of weeks, we had a complimentary and it was quite busy because everyone wanted to try it.” TopTracer is a tracing technology that allows cameras to trace and show the audience the real-time ball flight and distance of a ball after it’s been hit. While it has been around since 2006, it has only been used in professional tournaments, such as the PGA Tour. However, recently, more driving ranges at golf courses across the United States have begun to install TopTracer technology. Its popularity has even been used at
TopGolf, a premier entertainment venue where players of all skills can play different game modes using the same technology. At the Golf and Learning Center’s TopTracer driving range, players are able to play games such as Launch Monitor, Virtual Golf and What’s In My Bag, as well as a wide variety of other games. “It’s similar to TopGolf, but you’re still practicing, so it’s great for whether you’re an amateur golfer or like a weekend recreational golfer,” Dewling said. For the avid golfer who wants to focus more on their skills, Launch Monitor and What’s In My Bag are two games that will encourage the player to concentrate more on their swing. Launch Monitor offers the ability for the player to track data such as distance, height and ball speed. What’s In My Bag gives the player the opportunity to hit with every one of their clubs and accumulate data according to each individual club. Dave Roose, the outside supervisor who oversees the driving range at the Golf and Learning Center, believes the addition of TopTracer will be most beneficial to the avid golfer. “If you’re doing a curve that’s going this way, it’s going to tell you that you’re swinging too much inside out,” he said. “And if you’re serious about that, it can help you correct that. It’s a good tool if the person is a serious golfer.” But TopTracer isn’t limited to the avid golfer wanting to perfect their swing. With its other game modes, players of all skills can come and hit
golf balls at the driving range. “I think that’s where the beginner golfer can play the points game or something that’s for any type of skill level,” Dewling said. One such game is Virtual Golf, in which players get to play 18 holes of golf on real life worldclass golf courses. “[It’s] kind of cool because you’re still practicing on the range, but it’s also a fun game that you can play with up to four players, so it doesn’t have to be just you playing,” Dewling said. “It’s fun because if you’re playing one of these games from here like the points game, everyone is able to compete and it doesn’t matter your skill level.” Players are also able to keep track of all their stats through the TopTracer mobile app. By just scanning their phone on one of the TopTracer screens, players are able to access all their saved data and stats. After warming up on the driving range TopTracer, golfers can take their skills to enjoy a round of golf at either Katke-Cousins Golf Course or the R&S Sharf Golf Course. With affordable rates for students starting at $13 to play nine holes, or $14 to play 18 on either course, students also have access to the putting greens and short game areas. When players need to ease the tension, they can head back to the driving range TopTracer and work on their swing. “It’s makes practicing so much fun and it also gives you a better idea of your strength and other things you need to work on,” Dewling said.
story by Sergio Montanez // design by Ashley Averill // graphics by Jimmy Williams
CAMPUS
10 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Grassroots movement battles ‘climate grief’
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An on-campus climate initiative took place on Tuesday, led by concerned university faculty
RACHEL BASELA Life&Arts Editor
Greta Thunberg, Isra Hirsi, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Jamie Margolin and many more individuals across America are speaking out against climate change and the politics behind the detriment of their planet. Now, this movement is coming to OU, and the faculty behind it invited students and staff to their first ever event called “Heading for Extinction (And What to Do About It).” Faculty members Laura Landolt, Alan Epstein, Lily Mendoza and Mozhgon Rajaee whose departments range from political science to communication, journalism and public relations to human health sciences, are working on founding a campus group to battle the effects of climate change. The event took place Tuesday, Sept. 24, where a film was shown and an open discussion followed.
I’ve long had growing concern over climate change and the ongoing ecological collapse, and I found it strange that we carry on in the academy and in the various professions as if it were business as usual. LILY MENDOZA OU PROFESSOR
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Epstein and Mendoza commented on the reasons they were interested in helping to develop this group. “I have a real passion for this issue because it’s enveloping and it’s very concerning,” Epstein said. “Especially
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since we have a lot of people who are still in denial, and even those who are not in denial are not sure what to do. In part that’s because it would appear that, at least in terms of nation policy, little is being done.” Mendoza discussed a personal experience that affected her perception of something described as “climate grief.”
“I’ve long had growing concern over climate change and the ongoing ecological collapse, and I found it strange that we carry on in the academy and in the various professions as if it were business as usual,” Mendoza said. “Last semester, I had one of my students, the most ecologically aware and passionate about the environment, attempt a near successful suicide — at least in part, I suspect, as a response to what many now call ‘climate grief.’” A grassroots movement is occurring on campus. People from differing departments, from students to faculty, are
coming together to decide on what they can do to battle “climate grief.” “Students are, more or less, convinced of the science, but they’re very depressed about knowing that little is being done. Yet, it’s their future that’s at risk,” Epstein said. “There’s a lot of what people sometimes call ‘climate grief’ that needs to be addressed, so we thought it would be important to have a discussion collectively after the film.” However, this emerging group of faculty is working toward addressing the concerns of the OU community by engaging in open discussions about the ways climate change can be dealt with and how to respond to the shared, negative feelings about what’s to come. “It felt good not to be alone anymore in our own grief over ongoing species extinction and catastrophic climate change,” Mendoza said. To find out more about this group, contact Alan Epstein at epstein@oakland.edu.
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 11
LIFE&ARTS
Tracey Taylor joins OUWB Office of Diversity and Inclusion KATELYN HILL Staff Reporter
The Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB) has added a micro professor to a macro role. Tracey Taylor, microbiology professor, has joined the OUWB’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion as an assistant dean. The Canada native said she is hoping to make a big change in the world of diversity and inclusion and to learn more about being an assistant dean. “It’s interesting to learn more ‘big picture’ issues and what’s going on that’s great and what we need to work on that’s going on in the school,” she said. Taylor is one of the two new assistant deans, the other being Robert McClowry, an assistant professor in Family Medicine and Community Health. The reason for expansion: helping the growing level of students, staff and faculty. “Everyone wants the same thing. Everyone wants more diversity and inclusion,” she said. “We want to make sure that everyone feels included once they’re here.” For Taylor, the biggest challenge of this new position is going to be that it isn’t what she has studied her whole life. “I feel like I need to read more about it and educate myself,” she said. “I want to build myself up to be an expert in it.” She is, however, an expert in microbiology. Taylor completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Calgary, her doctorate at the University of Western Ontario and her post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Alberta.
She taught at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences for 10 years before coming to Oakland University in August 2014. “Especially during my master’s, I did a lot of teaching and I loved teaching,” she said. “ I didn’t want to end up in a traditional academic teaching environment where teaching is something you have to do, not something you do because you love it.” After coming to OU, Taylor said she has been offered many leadership opportunities such as serving as vice chair of the OUWB Department of Foundational Medical Studies, a position she held from January 2018 until August 2019. Part of what sparked her interest to join the Office of Diversity and Inclusion was her upbringing in Calgary, Alberta. She said growing up where she did, she saw much more diversity than she has seen since moving to the United States. “Half my class was not originally Canadian. A lot of them had relatives at home that didn’t speak English,” she said. “Being in Canada, we all learned French, so it didn’t stand out at all that everyone was speaking different languages.” After moving to Kansas City, she noticed that people of different backgrounds tended to separate themselves into groups, which was unlike what she had grown up with in Canada. When she came to OUWB, there was already a strong Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Because of this, there were educational opportunities where she learned more about American history and even took unconscious bias training. Since Taylor became assistant dean, the office has started offering open office hours for faculty, staff and students, which Taylor hosts on campus.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Microbiology professor Tracey Taylor is named assistant dean of OUWB’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion.
Discussing the
UAW strike RACHEL BASELA Life&Arts Editor
United Automobiles Workers (UAW) have long been protesting General Motors (GM) over equal pay, fair benefits and job security. In fact, the UAW workers employed by GM have gone on strike 21 times since 1994. The earliest strike dates back to 1936. As of Sept. 18, 2019, the UAW is on strike again. This time, however, things are different than before because of seemingly stronger feelings of the strikers toward GM after the 2007 negotiation. Adam, who chose to keep his full name anonymous, is one of around 49,000 UAW workers on strike in this year’s picket line. “GM’s made billions in the last couple years,” Adam said. “When they were dying of bankruptcy, we gave them everything they wanted, and we just want our fair share back.” “Aramark and GM, we’re just waiting for them to sign a contract,” said Carcier Guchribge, another UAW worker who chose to strike. Daniel Clark, an associate professor of history at Oakland University and the author of “Disruptions in Detroit,” provided historical and current information about why the strike is occurring and how GM and the UAW have responded to their issues in the past. “The contract between GM and the UAW has a lot to do with this immediate problem — an immediate strike and the conflict today,” Clark said. “That’s in part because in 2007, GM was at death’s door, it was on
the brink of extinction, and it would go into bankruptcy a couple years later. But, the Great Recession probably officially began in late 2008, but in the auto industry, it was pretty well underway.” Since this auto recession, terms had to be met on both sides. In terms of the UAW, the workers vouch that they have given the industry all they have asked of them. Now, it seems the UAW is ready to be compensated for what the workers have done for GM. “In the contracts that were signed in the 2007 strike, the UAW agreed to something that they never would have agreed to in the past,” Clark said. “That was a two-tier wage system to try to give GM some economic relief on wages. So, people who were already hired at GM continued to earn what they had earned, essentially, but new hires would earn about half as much. “Also, the contract gave GM the right to hire temporary workers without a clear path for temporary workers to become full-time employees with benefits.” After 2007, the UAW workers at GM are demanding they be compensated fairly and stray from the structure of the wages that came out of the strike 12 years ago. The ending of this strike is still unclear to many media outlets, but it seems the UAW isn’t backing down any time soon. “Until the membership approves the agreement, I was told we’re not going back to work,” said a UAW worker at GM’s plant in Bedford, Indiana, who asked to not be named, according to the Detroit Free Press.
LIFE&ARTS
12 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Nursing student honored for ‘Kindness and Transformation’ essay RACHEL YIM Staff Reporter
Sable Zuza, one of the fourth-year students in Oakland University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, recently received an honorable mention in the Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest. The contest asked medical and nursing students to engage in reflective writing exercise that illustrates personal experience where they worked to ensure that humanism was at the core of care. “When I was notified, I was very surprised,” Zuza said. “I really wasn’t expecting it to happen ... I actually got an email from the Dean of the School of Nursing, and that’s how I found out about the honorable mention.” Zuza is currently pursuing her second degree, completing her last year of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Oakland University. Her final goal is to become a midwife, a trained health professional who helps women during labor, delivery and after the birth of their babies. Though Zuza wants to become a midwife, she still wanted to have a nursing background for healthcare training preparation and more flexibility in terms of where she wanted to practice. In her essay, she illustrated how a gentle approach helped her make connections with a patient during a clinical.
PHOTO COURTESY OF OAKLAND UNIVERSITY
Fourth-year student receives an honorable mention for her essay on making connections with a patient.
She included a quote that said, “My hope is that every healthcare professional recognizes the sanctity of the therapeutic relationship, and realizes how presence and listening can transform the health and life of any patient, and make them feel at home wherever they are.” As a nursing student, she was very interested in seeing the message being promoted in healthcare. She
also wanted to share her personal experience where she witnessed transformation in a patient in a short amount of time. “I’ve always been very passionate about pregnancy, conceptions in labor and delivery, and always wanted to have children of my own, so I was really inspired by midwifery and just recognizing birth as a spiritual right of passage that’s often overlooked in our culture,” Zuza said. “I’m glad that there’s a resurgence of that awareness that it’s not just the woman giving birth, but also her family and the newborn entering the world. And I always thought that was beautiful, so I wanted to become a part of that.” Using the nursing program as a stepping stone, Zuza believes that it is a great opportunity to have a healthcare base and develop the qualities that are part of nursing. Due to the challenges of the nursing program, she has gone through many obstacles and realized that it was very different than what she was expecting. “I don’t think nursing is just a career, but it’s also a way of life to embody the values of nursing,” Zuza said. “Just don’t give up, try to stay positive and be resourceful. And if you ever face an obstacle, look for ways around it. Always advocate for yourself and be your own ally as much as you can.” After graduating from the nursing program at OU, Zuza plans on going to a graduate school in nursing for her master’s degree in midwifery.
Nu Omega wins Best Chapter award for six consecutive years BEN HUME Web Editor
The Nu Omega chapter at Oakland University has been selected for one of Pi Sigma Alpha’s Best Chapter Awards for the 2018-2019 school year. The political science honors society has now been given the Best Chapter award for six years straight. The award is given every year to chapters that are exceptionally active and impactful within their local communities. President of Nu Omega Ghazi Ghazi credits the chapter’s success to a variety of contributions from undergraduate students. “This award is granted to chapters of Pi Sigma Alpha around the country for programming, membership, participation and overall how the honorary operates,” Ghazi said. “Whether it’s the amount of events we put on, the creativity of these events, how we keep our members engaged ... it’s not a set criteria, but we set a rapport.” The personal accomplishments of Nu Omega members also helps set the chapter apart. “When our members achieve something, when they have gotten scholarships
... that’s one of our achievements, and we have our members doing all this kind of stuff,” Ghazi said. “I think what’s really special about our chapter is how we interact with our members and how we really push them to do their best.” This kind of personal performance has allowed the Nu Omega chapter to shine so brightly, but Ghazi said with everything they have in store for the next school year, he sees his chapter as a viable candidate for next year’s award as well. “We are planning a variety of events with other organizations on campus about climate change, we’re also looking to bring in lecturers to discuss international politics,” Ghazi said. Debate forums and lectures are only a few ideas the students have for the upcoming year, with a small possibility of even getting one of their members who worked at an embassy in Detroit to do a meet and greet. Professor Terri Towner is the faculty adviser for the chapter, and she emphasizes the fact that she is proud of the student leadership. “None of it is my planning, I am simply the faculty adviser,” Towner said. “I just make sure that the students that are involved in the honorary are following the bylaws, I manage the board elections,
I am simply a voice of reason. I give suggestions and attend the membership meetings ... but this is a completely student-run group.” Towner echoes the praises of Ghazi in relation to their repeated successes, owing it to the training they do to prepare new and promising members of the honorary for leadership. Due to this training and teaching, and with an election year coming up, Towner said she is confident
their chapter will be in the running again. “There are all kinds of events that the national office is planning in celebration of our centennial,” Towner said when asked about future plans for Nu Omega. But no matter what, she makes sure the hard work of the students she advises are the reason this chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha continues to win the Best Chapter award. “I just sit back and watch it all happen,” Towner said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TERRI TOWNER Nu Omega looks to collaborate with lecturers and other organizations to discuss matters.
OPINION
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 13
‘Friends’ is still better than whatever you’re currently binge-watching TREVOR TYLE Editor-in-Chief
Twenty-five years ago, the world was introduced to Central Perk, a small New York coffeehouse where six inseparable 20-somethings would ultimately spend the next 10 years trying to navigate adulthood together. It was a success that no one could’ve predicted — I guess it’s fair to say that no one told them life was gonna be this way (insert clapping here). But since its premiere on Sept. 22, 1994, “Friends” has become a cultural staple in a way few television shows ever could. While an average 23 million viewers per episode would warrant that kind of legacy, what’s astounding is that the show’s popularity has only increased in the years following its conclusion. Last year, Netflix viewers streamed 32.6 billion minutes of the series, making it the second most-streamed program on the platform behind only “The Office.” But what is it that makes “Friends” so special? In short, it’s the friends themselves. We see ourselves in these characters. Whether it’s Ross’ incessant whining about a stolen sandwich or Monica’s irresistible — and borderline disturbing — urge to clean everything in sight, there’s something relatable in the ridiculousness of these characters. I’ve perhaps never related to any fictional character more than Chandler Bing, who thrives on sarcasm and making jokes when he’s uncomfortable to get through life unscathed. All six of the friends feel, for better or worse, real.
COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES “Friends” is about a group of 20-somethings living in New York.
At its surface, the simplicity of the show makes it easy to binge, but the success of “Friends” may also be rooted in its psychological benefits. In spite of its relatively realistic scenarios — excluding the obviously absurd presumption that six adults in their 20s and 30s really have that much money and free time on their hands — “Friends” offers a rather escapist approach to the harsh realities of adulthood, which, according to several stud-
ies, can help viewers cope with anxiety. “Friends” boasts an unequivocal joy that just isn’t comparable to any of its contemporaries. Hell, ratings for the series increased 17% in the wake of 9/11, largely due to the show’s optimism, according to co-creator Marta Kauffman. (Given the current political climate, it’s no surprise that optimism still has such a large appeal.) Over two decades after “Friends” premiered, the central conflicts presented across its ten seasons are still just as relevant. As college students, many of us are entering our 20s, and much like Ross, Rachel, Phoebe, Monica, Chandler and Joey, we’re at a pivot-al (pun intended) moment in our lives, learning that adulthood is hard, but it’s doable — especially if you’ve got good friends by your side. There’s one particular line in the show’s pilot that encapsulates this collective struggle shared by the characters and audience: “Welcome to the real world. It sucks. You’re gonna love it.” (Could that be any more accurate?) It’s a sentiment that follows those characters right up until the show’s emotional finale, and one that its audience has carried long after. “Friends” did more than give us an iconic haircut or a catchy tune about a foul-smelling feline. It’s transcended — and shaped — generations of people trying to figure out life as an adult. It was there for my parents when they were in their 20s, and now it’s there for me, too. It’s been 25 years, and the heart and humor of “Friends” have beyond endured the test of time. And there will probably never be anything quite like it ever again.
Netflix’s new series is ‘unbelievable’ in the best way ASHLEY AVERILL Design Editor
It’s ironic how the plot of Netflix’s new limited series, “Unbelievable,” is actually so believable given the world today. “Victim blaming,” “slut shaming,” “attention whore” — whatever name it goes by this week, the pattern of not believing and denying the victims of sexual assault has been ingrained into society, enough so that it’s the topic of Netflix’s latest crime drama. “Unbelievable” depicts the events and handling of a series of rape cases from Washington to Colorado in the early 2000s by different police departments, as well as the gross mistreatment of a victim. From the first scene, this limited series is gripping, raw, emotional and gut-wrenching. Inspired by true events, it follows Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever), a 16-yearold young woman from Washington with a history of abuse, and the aftermath of her brutal rape by an intruder at knifepoint. The series follows Marie as she must relive her experience multiple times in her statements to the authorities in the investigation. Interwoven with dark and violent scenes
of her assault, “Unbelievable” portrays the pain Marie experienced, capturing the horror of her trauma. Nightmares of the event haunt her, leaving her with sleepless nights. But seeds of doubt cause the two male detectives in charge of her case to not believe her accusations and use intimidation
tactics to coax her into confessing that she made it all up. To top it all off, they charge her with false reporting, causing her life to crumble as she loses her job, her apartment and friends, and battles suicidal thoughts. Meanwhile, in northern Colorado, a series of heinous rapes are committed and two fe-
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDb
Netflix’s new crime drama, “Unbelievable,” is based on a series of true events.
male detectives notice the similarities in the crimes. Detectives Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) and Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) join forces to create a task force dedicated to finding the serial rapist and work to catch him before he strikes again. They demonstrate compassion and respect when interviewing the victims, things Marie was robbed of when she was denied justice. What this series shows is how hard it can be for a woman to speak up, especially in a toxic environment where she is threatened and told by society that she is shameful. “Girls make stuff up, you know — there’s status to being a victim” is a line uttered by a young man in the series, reaffirming how society views women who try to come forward. With the #MeToo movement allowing women the platform to speak up and be heard about their experiences, this series couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. As a victim of sexual assault myself, this narrative is all too familiar. This painfully accurate and powerful series is a must-see. Women fear speaking out because when others have, they’ve been criticized. Now that is outrageous and truly “unbelievable.”
Rating: 5/5 stars
14 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
SPORTS
Soccer alumna named associate athletic director of development BRIDGET JANIS Staff Reporter
An Oakland University women’s soccer alumna ended up returning home to her roots here on campus. From graduating in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in management, Jenna Taylor plans to put that education to good use as she takes on a new role as OU’s associate athletic director of development. “I think the end goal was always to come back,” Taylor said. “I loved Oakland when I was here. When I lost my senior year game, I came back to the soccer field and just literally laid in the middle of the soccer field because I knew my career was over.” Taylor considered herself an overachiever when it came to her time at OU. She was a student athlete for the women’s soccer team from 2011-2014. She was also involved with student organizations such as being president of the Society of Scholars and the Oakland University American Marketing Association, a peer tutor, and vice president and a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. “I’m a very overachieving person — I wanted to be involved with whatever I
NICOLE MORSFIELD | PHOTO EDITOR
Soccer alumna Jenna Taylor returns to Oakland athletics as director of development.
could,” Taylor said. “I was a marketing intern my senior year, here in Athletics, that was the start of my inspiration to go into college athletics.” Some of Taylor’s responsibilities as associate athletic director of development are coordinating the Golden Grizzlies Champions Club, the yearly annual giving program at OU, and working to fundraise for the department.
One belief Taylor holds close to her heart is the strength of student athlete alumni. She would love to bring back the Oakland Varsity Association (Varsity O) program, and has the goal of bringing back alumni of all eras. “Not just my own from 2011-2015, but where are the ’80s alumni, where are the ’70s alumni?” Taylor said. “So, trying to get the Pioneers and the Golden Grizzlies
together in one alumni group.” She also wants to emphasize a hall of honor event and many events specifically for sports. “I just really believe in the power of alumni, I really do,’’ Taylor said. “So bringing back and connecting new coaches, old coaches, back to their alumni.” Before coming to work for OU, Taylor gained experience to help her through two prior jobs. One job she held was being a student assistant for two years at Michigan State University’s Spartan Fund. The second is the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) in which she was a community relations coordinator. During her time at the Detroit PAL, she worked with many volunteers. At the end of her year, she ended up leaving with around 20 corporate contacts and over 200 personal volunteers she had connected with. Even during her time at MSU, Taylor was always supporting OU and keeping up with the athletics teams. “I’m a big Oakland supporter and that’s what brought me back here,” Taylor said. “When I saw the opportunity and it presented itself, I knew I wanted to be back here. I knew a position like development gave me an opportunity to find ways to support my fellow student athletes and my future student athletes.”
Freshman scores walk-off goal in overtime against Youngstown Women’s soccer opened Horizon League play with a 1-0 home victory on LGBTQIA+ Pride Night DEVIN BOATWRIGHT Staff Reporter
LGBTQIA+ Pride night saw the Golden Grizzlies face off against the Youngstown State University Penguins, opening Horizon League play. After a double overtime thriller, the Golden Grizzlies defended home turf with a 1-0 victory. The story of this game was time of possession, as Oakland controlled the ball for much of the game. However, this did not result in any goals in the first half. The Golden Grizzlies took nine out of their 19 total shots in the first half. With control of possession came the tough defense of Oakland as well. The Golden Grizzlies held Youngstown State to only three shots the entire game and left them scoreless. This is only the second time they have shut out an opposing team this season — last time was their win
against Valparaiso University. The second half was no different than the first for the Golden Grizzlies as they continued to apply pressure on Youngstown State. As the second half clock ticked down, Youngstown had two fast-paced runs that could have potentially ended the game. However, Jaimie Leas, redshirt junior and goalkeeper for the Golden Grizzlies, made two crucial saves to push the match into overtime. Her save percentage on the season rose to 76.5%. The first overtime period was a back and forth battle between both sides neither team giving an inch. Entering the second overtime period, both teams were still scoreless. At the 105th minute of the game, Brooklyn Blake, a freshman midfielder, scored her first collegiate goal off of a deflection by fellow teammate Taylor Thalheimer. Thalheimer was credited with the assist, her first of the year. This was Blake’s
third shot of the game, two of which were on goal. The team swarmed Blake as she scored the game winning goal and sent Youngstown State packing. Blake was grateful after the game. “I don’t have any words to describe how I feel right now,’’ Blake said. “It was a very special moment for me especially considering it was a goal in overtime. It’s something I’ll never forget.” This double overtime victory from the Golden Grizzlies snaps their four game losing streak. This was the team’s second overtime win of the season, and was also the first time Oakland has won their Horizon League opener since 2016. The Golden Grizzlies (3-4-1) are traveling to Ohio to face off against Wright State University for their second Horizon League conference game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. The next home game will be a “white out” on Oct. 2 as Oakland will defend home turf against long-time rival Detroit Mercy.
SPORTS
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 | 15
Horizon League schedules
released for basketball MICHAEL PEARCE Sports Editor
The in-conference schedules for both the men’s and women’s basketball teams has been set for the 2019-2020 season. Both teams have a road-heavy out of conference schedule, with the most important games being the Horizon League face-offs that start in December. Women’s Basketball The Horizon League home opener takes place on Thursday, Jan. 9 for the Oakland women’s basketball team. After three road games in a row, their fourth conference match-up will be against the Green Bay Phoenix, who are perennial contenders for the best team in the conference. This kicks off a four game home stand for the Golden Grizzlies. In that 11-day span, the Milwaukee Panthers, Youngstown State University Penguins and Cleveland State University Vikings also come to the O’rena. Last season, the Golden Grizzlies lost all eight match-ups against those four teams, but played Cleveland State and Youngstown State close. This season, the women’s basketball team will face the team they swept last year, the Detroit Mercy Titans, at home on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. in the Metro Series Rivalry, a game that is always hard fought. To close out the season, the Golden Grizzlies get a two game home stand against the Wright State University Raiders and the Northern Kentucky University Norse. Last season against both of these teams, the women’s team went 0-5 including the tournament and played Wright State especially close in the first round of postseason play.
Men’s Basketball The men’s basketball schedule opens up with a home game against rival Detroit Mercy and Horizon League First-Team point guard Antoine Davis on Saturday, Dec. 28. This game takes place on winter break, something that has seemingly been a staple of the Oakland/Detroit Mercy games for the past two seasons. After that, they host the reigning regular season and tournament champions in back-to-back games, with Wright State and Northern Kentucky coming to town. Both the Wright State and Northern Kentucky games take place a few days before the winter semester starts, so not all students will be on campus for three of the most anticipated home games of the season, something that has been a key factor in lower crowd sizes for home games. For the majority of January, the Golden Grizzlies will be on the road, but return for the end of the month with two games against up-and-coming Horizon League teams in University of Illinois-Chicago and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis on the second-to-last weekend of January. For most of February however, the men’s team will be at the O’rena. In the middle of February, the Golden Grizzlies have four home games against Cleveland State, Youngstown State, Milwaukee and Green Bay. Outside of Cleveland State, most of these teams will be fighting with Oakland for spots in the Horizon League tournament in March. The home game on Sunday, Feb. 23 will be the last of the regular season, as before the tournament the men’s team will have two road games. If the men’s or women’s team finish top four, they will host a home playoff game before the remaining rounds of the Horizon League tournament move to Indianapolis.
THE OAKLAND POST ARCHIVES
Both teams will be playing homestands to end their seasons before the tournament.
16 | SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
SATIRE
New Netflix Original, “Short King” MICHAEL PEARCE Sports Editor
ASHLEY AVERILL | DESIGN EDITOR
An undercover Kyle infultrates Area 51 to see UFOs and clap some alien cheeks.
Area 51 through the eyes of a Kyle NICOLE MORSFIELD Photo Editor
I bought my plane ticket to Nevada early. Carefully placing bottles of Axe body spray and cans of Monster Energy in my suitcase already overflowing with graphic tees, I consider my first undercover mission. Photography isn’t an easy industry to break into. To get my foot in the right door, I need an insider’s view of the event that inspired summer 2019’s most iconic memes. It’s dawn, Sept. 20. I’m standing in my hotel room, tucking my hair into a DC cap and familiarizing myself with my new identity. My phone rings. “It’s time,” I hear on the other end. “Are you ready, Kyle?” I’m not used to hearing that name yet. I take a deep breath and punch a hole through the drywall. “Ready.” I wasn’t ready. It’s afternoon, complete chaos. Everything’s happening so fast. My shutter speed is set as fast as it will go, the environment changing too often to keep white balanced. My camera bounces against my chest as I Naruto run through the gates with more Kyles. Flanked by the Karens, we’re out of view of the guards. For now. A bullet whizzes over my head. But before the guard can fire off another, a Karen stops him and demands to speak to his manager. The perfect photo opportunity presents itself. I’m buried in my viewfinder, about to
press the shutter when I’m pulled behind a nearby building. A grenade lands where I was just standing. “That was a close one,” says the Kyle who saved my life. “Now hop on. Let’s see them aliens.” I jump on his back and his Heelies engage, propelling us through the melee. Our ranks grow until we’re an impenetrable crowd of people with nothing better to do on a Friday. The guards can’t stop us now. Main base has been breached. From my vantage point on Kyle’s back, I hold my finger over the shutter, ready to snap a burst of photos of whatever lies behind that door. The barrier falls to reveal nothing. Not an alien nor gorilla in sight. For a brief moment, it’s silent. Then ,laughter echoes through the crowd in a crescendo until we’re all lying on the ground in the wake of the destruction, tears streaming down our faces. It’s time to go. It’s dusk, Sept. 20. At a corner booth in a Nevada bar, I reflect on the day with the rest of the Kyles. We drink, we laugh, we exchange Instagram handles. Thoughts of my alien photos in major magazines cross my mind no longer. I’m on a plane back to Michigan. My memory card contains countless blurry, out-of-focus photos of anime nerds darting through clouds of smoke. I laugh to myself as I wipe the card clean. The Area 51 raid wasn’t about the photos or the aliens, but the friends we made along the way and the now mended holes in the drywall of my heart.
Last week, our talented content editor, Katie Valley, reviewed a Netflix movie called “Tall Girl.” At first I thought this was a new kind of wine beverage in a tall can, similar to a “Tall Boy” beer. I was wrong. It is an incredibly cringeworthy movie concept that Netflix thinks is good. But, the better Netflix original has been overlooked. It is the opposite of “Tall Girl.” It is the vastly superior “Short King” movie starring the Bagel Boss. Bagel Boss is a small man in a big world. He lives large, despite the numerous amount of women who reject him because of his size. He is tired of the women who deny him just based on his height, so he hops into his lifted truck and moves across the country to start over. Along the way, he finds the true meaning of the phrase “Short King” while enjoying all the bagels he can across the way. It is truly a beautiful film, a sort of crossover between “Dumb and Dumber” and ‘The Notebook,” as Bagel Boss finds love within himself and within the confines of Dunkin’ Donuts across the United States. Traveling from Boston to Los Angeles in his 11-mile-per-gallon truck, he encounters many new friends along the way. From Danny DeVito, Tom Cruise and Ken Jeong, the short kings across the states are represented in this movie, as Bagel Boss gets a gang together to take on the evil patriarchy that discriminates
against men under six feet tall. Together, the gang goes around targeting tall women, from Leslie Jones to Jane Lynch, and every WNBA player. They find these women and lecture them for many hours, mansplaining and manspreading throughout the film about how just because they are short, doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a chance at love. Unlike “Tall Girl,” this performance by the lead actor is exquisite. Bagel Boss delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. It is raw, believable and downright moving. You can feel the pain in every line he delivers. He has lived the life of a Short King, and you can feel it through the screen. He is a man of depth, pain, love and everything in-between. As someone who is 5’9” and on the border of Short King status, I felt like he was speaking for me. Bagel Boss has joined the elite ranks of Meryl Streep, Daniel Day-Lewis and Tom Hanks with this first film performance. All in all, Short King is the movie Netflix needs to be promoting. I think it is being swept under the rug because of the controversial nature of the innately sexist Bagel Boss, but once we move past the putrid personality of the real-life person, the performance and overall quality of the film shines through as one of Netflix’s best projects. For a streaming service that seems to churn out garbage quicker than ever thought possible, they hit a home run with this one. I give this movie five out of five everything bagels with cream cheese.
Rating: 5/5 Bagels
ASHLEY AVERILL | DESIGN EDITOR
“Short King,” the groundbreaking film is inspired by a little man in a big world.